Air Belgium announced in its latest update that the company will deny boarding to passengers en route to Martinique and Guadeloupe due to an increase in COVID-19 infections in the French Antilles.
According to a press release issued by Air Belgium on August 11, the French Antilles is currently experiencing a significant increase in cases of COVID-19 infection, which has led to the imposition of strict measures and restrictions, according to SchengenVisaInfo.com.
Thus, from August 10, seasonal residences and hotels are closed to tourists. In addition, access to beaches and cultural attractions is no longer possible.
The airline is currently working on organizing the repatriation of all passengers on their regular flights. They intend to return travelers as soon as possible to protect the health of the population and avoid new infections.
To deal with the situation, Air Belgium stressed that all passengers affected by the changes will be given the opportunity to either postpone the trip to a later date, or receive a full refund.
France’s overseas territory of Martinique has already announced the introduction of strict isolation for three weeks.
The prefect of the island, Stanislas Caselles, advised all tourists to leave the area immediately, as Martinique currently has one of the highest rates of COVID-19 infection in France – about 1,200 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
He said that all stores, except for groceries and pharmacies, will be closed. As for hotels, they will be open only to residents of the country or to key professionals.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of August 12, 27,883 cases of COVID-19 infection had been detected in Martinique. In the last day alone, 573 new cases of infection have been registered in the country.